Nordic Innovation House – New York now open for business!

Dagfinn Høybråten (left) and Svein Berg opens the Nordic Innovation House - New York. The ribbon is held by Silve Parviainen (far left) and Hege Barnes. Photo: Tim Soter/Consulate General of Sweden in New York

Published 21/09/2017

Four Nordic ministers were present as Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten, officially opened the new Nordic incubator 20 September.

Inspired by the success of Nordic Innovation House in Silicon Valley, the Nordic countries launched the new Nordic Innovation House – New York at an opening event in the “Big Apple” 20 September with more than 200 attendees.

The new incubator is the result of a unique alliance between all the five Nordic countries and is mainly financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers through Nordic Innovation.

“If one word was chosen to sum up the Nordic countries, ‘innovative’ would surely be a high contender” said Secretary General Dagfinn Høybråten from the Nordic Council of Ministers in his opening speech. “For me and the Nordic Council of Ministers, it’s important that we use this strength within innovation to create solutions to societal challenges”, he continued.

The ambition of the Nordic Innovation House – New York is to give the most promising Nordic companies looking to scale the support they need to develop such solutions. The house will provide co-working office space, access to legal advice and help with accounting, tax and work permits to give companies a soft landing on the US east coast.

Managing Director for Nordic Innovation, Svein Berg, thinks that will be a vital service for ambitious Nordic startups.

“The Nordics have a lot of promising and talented startups and entrepreneurs, but one of our largest challenges is how to help more of them scale their business. The Nordic Innovation House in New York can be a part of that solution, and can provide our talents with the support they need to go global”, he said at the opening event.

Prominent guests

The Nordic Innovation House – New York has sparked political interest, and no less than four Nordic ministers were present at the official opening event. Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, Finland’s Kai Mykkänen, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende of Norway, and the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström all took to the stage to pitch unique Nordic ideas to the audience. Consul General and Trade Commissioner of Iceland, Hlynur Gudjonsson was also present.

People from famous Nordic companies like Spotify and Nokia were also present as keynote speakers, as was Nordic Innovation’s Managing Director Svein Berg.

Welcomed by New York

New York has become the second largest startup ecosystem in the world, and the community grows faster than anywhere else. Now, the city is looking forward to host the brightest Nordic startups and entrepreneurial talents.

“New York City is thrilled for the launch of the Nordic Innovation House. NYC has always been a place for people from around the world to come grow their businesses. We know the entrepreneurs from [the Nordic] countries will find in our five boroughs the talent, innovation and creativity that matches the spirit of their home nations" said New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena, in her speech.

That message bodes well for Nordic Innovation House – New York, which is now open for business after Dagfinn Høybråten and Svein Berg cut the ribbon at the end of the opening event.